So, I've been looking at a few Ghost Bear "favorite" 'Mechs all morning, and I've come up with a design paradigm for GB, if they ever make it into the game.

The Bears don't really make speed a top factor (As evidenced by the Vulture/Mad Dog and Grizzly), though they still have a few fast ones here and there. So, medium to medium-low speeds for most units.

Despite being relatively slow, a lot of Bear 'Mechs are described as maneuverable, so they should all have a pretty good arc size. Perhaps 270/90?

All their 'Mechs have a good mix of weaponry, so ballistics and energy attacks. Possible SEs include Pulse, Anti-personnel, and Streak Missiles. I don't see a lot of ranged weaponry except in the Grizzly and maybe the Arcas, so I sense under-14 ranges (perhaps bring back the 13" range? Kriya Wolf's feeling a bit lonely...). Average attack, above-average defense, slow drop in stats.

Heat usually isn't an issue with the prime configurations of most Bear designs.

Fairly long dials, maybe not Spirit Cat or Highlander long, but longer than most. Sloth usually means more armor or weapons, and the Grizzly is described has having heavier armor than Summoners or Hellbringers. And the Bears have always been survivors.



So, a list of possible Faction Abilities, if there are to be any (only three of these, mind):

Family: If your battleforce contains 75% Ghost Bear units or more, add +1 to the defense value of all Ghost Bear units (so Geoff Bekker-like defenses can be achieved :D)

Rituals: If any Ghost Bear unit dies, all Ghost Bear units with Speed Mode 'Mech in an (x)-inch radius of the unit receive a +1 attack bonus for the remainder of the game. (indicating the Ghost Bear's unique funeral rituals)

Survivors: If a Ghost Bear unit is being repaired by another Ghost Bear unit, ignore all repair markers.

Hunters: If a Ghost Bear unit enters Hindering Terrain, it receives an additional +1 defense (The Ghost Bear often lies in waiting for days before pouncing).

Battle Planning: If your battleforce contains 75% Ghost Bear units or more, add +1 to the speed value of all Ghost Bear units, and subtract an additional -1 when an opposing unit fires into the Ghost Bear units' rear arcs (representing the fact that while most Ghost Bears are good thinkers/tacticians, they never leave a good defensive line behind them.)

Traitors: If a 'Mech with the name "Geoff Bekker - Kodiak" on its dial is played on either side of the battle, it receives a -20 defense modifier (though it's possible to miss even that) and may be fired upon by friendly units. Just kidding.

Ghost bears would be fun to see indeed. And as I see they use a lot of close combat.

Just remember, they did merge with the Rasalhauge Republic, so perhaps some Spheroid influence from the RR? :)

If ghost bear comes its my second faction without question. i want to see a GB kodiak :)

Long live the Ghost Bear! I would love to see the Ghost Bears come out in MWDA. Right now my favorite faction is Dragons Fury, followed by Highlanders. I think that would require some rearranging if the Bears showed up in the game. You seem to have hit the Ghost Bear characteristics right on the nose. And I like your traitor faction ability.:p